Wheel construction



Dec. 25, 1192s.A

1,696,405 n w. c. MARTIN WHEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 18, 1928 2 7@ l 4' Y "7 A L Y -ll 8 9 l *77 *H5 a n f @f H 58 In ym: W Ay im. u,

llilllllllmi IIL Patented Dec. 25, 192.8.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.. f

WILLIAM C. MARTIN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A SSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO JOI-IN II.

LEE, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

WHEEL CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed February 18, 1928.

This invention relates particularly to wheels equipped with rubber tires; and the primary object is to provide improved means for securing a tire upon the rim of a wheelcenter.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a broken elevational View of a wheel embodying the invention; Fig. 2, a broken section taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8, a broken section taken as indicated at line 8 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4l, a perspective view of a wedge-block employed; and Fig. 5, a perspective view of a companion wedge-block employed.

In the illustration given, the wheel-center, designated A, comprises a felly 1, spokes 2, and a steel band 3 shrunk upon the felly; and the tire, designated B, comprises an an nular steel base-rim 4 and another tiremember 5 of rubber mounted thereon and preferably vulcanized thereto.

The tire B is securely mounted on the wheel-center through the medium oi a pair of supporting-rings C and associated wedgel blocks. v

The rings C preferably are split-rings. Each ring is of channel-form cross-section, having a cylindrical port-ion 6, an inturned outer flange 6a, and an inturned inner flange 6b. The flange 6b has .itsinner edge curved to conform to the band 8. The outer flange .6@ is of suiiicient depth to engage the edge of the rim 3.

Each of the rings C is secured between the band 8 of the wheel-center and the member 4 by means of a series of complemental wedgemembers 7 and 8. Preferably the inner iange 6b is provided with slots 9 at points where the wedge-members 7 and 8 are located, and the outer Harige vis provided with a series of perforations 10 adapted to receive the bolts 8a with which the wedgemembers 8 are equipped.

The outer wedge-member 7 preferably is a segmental member having a convex outer surface 7a and a concave inner surface 7b. At the outer end, the wedge-member 7 is provided with an inturned (radial) flange 7'3 having a passage 7d through which the bolt f 8 may extend. Thus, the iange 7c is furcated to permit the passage of the bolt.

Serial No. 255,345.

The inner wedge-member 8 also is seg1nenconcave inner surface 8c.

The inner ends of the wedgeanembers are adapted to extend through the slots with which the Hange 6b is provided. It will be understood that the construction of each ring and the associated wedge devices are the same. The bolts 8a are equipped with nuts 8d.

In Fig. 8, the slight space between the ends of the split-ring is designated 11.

The cylindrical portion 6 of the ring is provided on its outer surface with a circumferential bead 12; and the inner surface of the tire-base al is provided with a pair of spaced annular grooves 13, either one of which may receive the bead 12.

In the illustration given, the projecting engage the outer grooves 13.

From the description given, it will be understood that the inner wedge-members 8 are adapted to be drawn outwardly (toward the lateral side of the wheel by means of the nuts 8d) also that the overlying wedgemembers 7 are confined against outward movement by the outer ilangesSL of the rings. Thus, a wedging effect is secured. In practice, this wedging eect can be secured with only slight movement of the wedge-members 8, so that the inner edges of the inner flanges 6b of the split-rings remain closely adjacent the outer surface of the steel-band 3 of the wheel-center. Thus, the flanges 6b are adapted to contact with the steel-band 3 in the event of any slight inward springing of the central portion of the tire. The anges 6b, in connection with the wedges, are adapted to strongly support the center portion of the tire. Moreover, the inturned flanges of the split-ring give great strength to the ring in the spaces intervening between the wedge-devices circumferentially of the wheel.

In practice, the wedgesdevices are placed rather close together, so that the doubleflanged split-ring effectively bridgesV the spaces between the successive Wedge-devices and the tire is thus rmly supported on the Wheel-center.

The split-rings may be formed by rolling channel-bars and then curving them into ring-form. The Wedge-devices may be cast to the desired iorm, or approximately the desired form, and machined, it desired.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadlyy as permissible, in vieiv oi' the prior art.

What l regard as new, and desire to secure b v Letters Patent., is:

i. ln combination, a Wheel-center, an encircling tire having an annular Vase, a pair of channel-forni rings interposed between the Wheel-center and said annular base, and a series of Wedge-devices associated with each ring, said wedge-devices comprising a pair oi complemental wedge-members, one oit which is provided with a bolt extending through the outer flange of the ring and equipped with a nut at the outer side of said liange.

2. ln combination, a Wheel-center, an encircling tire having an annular base, a pair ot split-rings of channel-'forni cross-section having inner flanges interposed between the ivhectcenter and said annular base and having outer flanges engaging the edges oi the rim-portion of the Wheel-center, series of Wedge-members lying adjacent the inner surface o' the cylindrical portion of each ring and having tapering lower surfaces, and a series ot companion Wedge-members underlying the Erst-mentioned Wedge-meinbers and having threaded bolts extending through pertorations in the outer llanges of said rings and equipped outside said flanges with nuts.

3. ln combination, a Wheel-center, an encircling tire having an annular base, a pair ot split-rings of channel-torni cross-section,

each ring having an inner flange interposed between the Wheel-center and said annular base and provided with a series of slots, the outer anges ol said rings being provided with perforations` and a pair of Wedge-inembers associated with each slot, said Wedgeinembers having tapering adjacent surfaces and one wedge-member of each pair having threaded bolts project-ing therefrom through a perforation in the outer flange ot' the ring and equipped outside the outer flange with a nut.

4l. In combination, a Wheel-center, an encircling tire having an annular base, a pair or split-rings ot' channel-form cross-sec.- tion, equipped at their outer circumferential surfaces with beads engaging annular recesses With which said annular base is provided, and a series of pairs of Wedge-inembers associated with each ring, each pair of Wedge-members comprising an outer Wedgeniember engaging the inner surface of the cylindrical portion of the corresponding Jig and an inner Wedge-member underlying the saine. and engaging the wheel-center, the inner Wedge-member having a threaded holt extending through the outer `flange of the ring and equipped with a nut.

5. ln combination, a Wheel-center, an encircling tire having an annular base, a pair of split-rings of channel-form cross-section having inner ianges provided with slots and having outer flanges adapted to engage the lateral edges of the Wheel-center and perorations extending through said outer anges outside the Wheel-center, and a series of pairs oi' Wedge-members associated with each ring, each pair of Wedge-ineinbers comprising an outer segmental member and an inner segmental member extending through the corresponding slot, one of said members being provided With a threaded stud extending through a perforation in the outer flange of the ring and equipped with a nut.

VVLLIAM C. MARTN. 

